Updated September 29, 2019 09:11:18

Photo: Shaun Grigg is chaired off the ground after Richmond's round-nine win over Hawthorn. (AAP: Julian Smith)

"Marlion Pickett. You're welcome, Tiger Army."

Shaun Grigg's tweet might have been tongue-in-cheek, but there's little doubt his retirement gave Richmond fans the gift of witnessing Pickett's stunning AFL grand final debut in an 89-point thrashing of GWS.

Grigg, beset by a chronic knee issue, made the tough decision to call an end to his 214-game career in May, freeing up a spot on the list so that the Tigers could snatch Pickett out of the WAFL at the mid-season rookie draft.

Pickett repaid the faith shown at that draft and by the bold move to hand him his AFL debut in a grand final with an eye-catching 22-possession, one-goal performance that saw him awarded four Norm Smith Medal votes.

Photo: Marlion Pickett was incredibly poised on debut given the circumstances. (AAP: Michael Dodge)

"They should have traded me in a couple of years ago for him, shouldn't they?" Grigg joked from the rooms.

"What an incredible game from Marlion.

"The decision for me to retire was all about getting someone who could help us this year … if it was going to be a young developing player I probably would've been a bit stubborn and dug my heels in and tried to go on.

"But when the club told me it was someone who could really help us this year, it was a pretty easy decision.

"He's played in two premierships for us … who would've thought?"

Pickett's best-on-ground effort in the VFL grand final a week ago was the catalyst for his shock AFL grand final debut.

Grigg's injury-enforced retirement foiled his dreams of joining many of his teammates in becoming a two-time premiership player, but he still took great personal pride in the result.

"The Richmond footy club is so special … if you're not playing, you still feel a part of it," he said.

"I'm probably lucky that I did experience 2017 in the latter part of my career and I just wanted to see the young boys who didn't play experience what I've experienced.

"I'll celebrate like I played, don't worry."

Photo: Pickett's first goal was one the highlights on a magic day for Richmond. (AAP: Michael Dodge)

AAP

Topics: australian-football-league, sport, richmond-3121, vic, australia

First posted September 29, 2019 08:18:53